Maggie, who is currently on tour to promote Live Free or Die Hard, was in Hawaii earlier this month visiting her family.

“I promised my older sister Nicole that I would see her,and she’s dying to hang out,“says Maggie,who is the youngest of five children.“I’m only home for five days, but I have to do it. I have to see my sister.

“I’m kind of ashamed to say it, but I haven’t been back in two years now. Now that I’m in L.A., work is just crazy. And when I come to Hawaii I want to be there for a couple of weeks at least. So, if it’s only a short amount of time, I usually don’t do it.”

Along with Nicole, Maggie’s parents also still reside here, living in Haleiwa. Her dad works for the government and mom at Leilehua Golf Course.

“I was raised in Mililani,and then we moved to Haleiwa in my early teens,” explains Maggie, who also attended Mililani Waena Elementary and Wheeler Intermediate.“The best part of Hawaii for me is nature. When I’m home, I’m hiking, I’m at the beach, I’m out bike riding, everything is physical. I’m 24-7 in Haleiwa, getting shaved ice; and I’m a vegetarian and there are all these great sandwich places and vegetarian eateries in Haleiwa. It’s awesome.”

While Maggie spends much of her time in different parts of the globe,home base right now is where her seven dogs are, which is L.A. That’s right, seven loveable canines.

“I’ve always had a love for animals. Ever since I was a kid I would rescue anything.Anything I found I would bring home.”

Maggie’s passion for animals is one reason why she lists her dream job as having an animal rescue.

“It’s going to happen,” she says. “The thing is in America there are so many rescue agencies and so many volunteer groups that fight for animals and rescue animals,and it’s a beautiful thing.

“To me, where we need help is in Asia, and I think that’s where the blessing comes in with my presence in Asia. My dream, and what I look to do,is to go back there and to promote animal rights there - to teach compassion and to have a sanctuary in China for rescued animals. There is no dream bigger than that one, and it’s a tough feat because of the Chinese government.

“You talk about animals and people think you’re talking about ice cream and candy, that it’s no big deal. But I feel that when you show compassion to a life that cannot defend itself against you, that’s the highest form of compassion in my eyes.So,protecting animals and having compassion for them, I think is the first step in feeling that way about the environment and about people.”

As for any future plans on moving back to the Islands,Maggie does-n’t see it happening.

“I can’t, even if I wanted to do it,” she says.“It wouldn’t be possible. But the wonderful thing is that because my parents are there and my sister is there,Hawaii will always be my home.

“To be honest, I’m not sure if I’ll ever move back to Hawaii. I’m one of those people who has seen most of the world, and I want to see the rest of it, and I think that’s what I’m going to be doing for many years to come.”